Ø VISITING DEPUTY ELECTION COMMISSIONER ASKS POLICE TO INTENSIFY ITS ACTIVITIES TO ENSURE FREE AND FAIR POLLS IN PUNJAB
Chandigarh, December 31, 2016: The Election Commission (EC) has decided to introduce a mobile based monitoring system for upcoming Assembly elections with a view to ensuring free and fair elections in the state of Punjab. Number of mobile applications (app) based on Android Platform have been developed for this purpose.This was disclosed here today by the Deputy Election Commissioner of ECI Mr. Sandeep Saxena while addressing a high level meeting of the civil, police officers and IT experts. He said that these mobile apps are primarily meant for maintaining law and order, streamlining the functioning of the presiding and polling officers and checking the crime and criminals at the end of the Police. The mobile apps have important features that would enable poll officials to feed real time information and data relating to polling. He also said that even the complaints received by the ECI would be dealt online. The poll officers/ officials have been given specialized training to make them acquainted with the modern technology to be extensively used during the elections.
Reviewing the operations of the apps related to the law and order situation in the coming Assembly Elections, Mr. Saxena such unique apps have been launched to keep an eye on law and order situation during the election. Giving a detailed presentation, senior police officers said that mapping of the Police station wise surveillance to be carried out by the Police personnel have already been done. For this, a database of information on a fixed Performa has been prepared. The parameters include list of proclaimed offenders, pending non-bailable warrants, number of arms licenses issued, and deposited, police deployment, sensitive areas etc.
Once the model code of conduct comes into effect, the police officials will have to upload information like liquor currency or liquor seized etc. "The app will be visible only to ECI and officials designated by it. But sitting in their control room in Delhi, an officer can access any information for any police station in Punjab. The app will also provide contact numbers of police officers down the line," the officer added. The data gathered through the app would play an important role in vulnerability mapping and listing of sensitive polling stations.
Addressing the meeting Chief Electoral Officer Punjab Mr. V.K.Singh assured the ECI to ensure effective monitoring & vigilance, comprehensive planning and discipline at all levels instilling confidence in the electorate to exercise their franchise without fear, coercion, intimidation or inducement. The CEO has directed all deputy commissioners, police officers and other officers put on election duty to ensure strict compliance to the EC’s directives especially when the Model Code of Conduct is enforced.